ASX to push higher in pivotal week for interest rates
Futures on the S&P/ASX 200 point to a gain of at least 0.5 per cent on Monday for the local bourse after modest gains on Wall Street that sent the benchmark S&P 500 up 0.8 per cent at the end of last week.
- Opinion
- Federal election
The Liberals need Frydenberg, but at what cost?
The optics of a bloke pushing aside a woman, especially in a teal seat, just because it’s suddenly become winnable, will be poor, writes Phillip Coorey.
- Analysis
- Due diligence
Only way to lose on Aussie property? Top short defies doubters
Lifestyle Communities, one of the market’s most shorted stocks, was a key hedge fund bet at the Hong Kong Sohn conference, writes Jemima Whyte.
Spike in auction volumes drags clearance rates lower
Preliminary clearance rates drifted lower across Sydney and Melbourne over the weekend as more vendors put their homes on the market.
Indonesian billionaires dig into Australian coal mines
Indonesian conglomerates have ploughed more than $3 billion on coal mining projects in NSW and Queensland since 2016, records show.
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
From 400 red buses in Melbourne to $400m a year and a $4b payday
Bus company Kinetic is one of Australia’s unheralded success stories. In an industry full of family operators, no one has cracked it like Kinetic’s crew.
Frydenberg’s political comeback splits Liberals
The former treasurer is not ruling out a rematch against teal independent Monique Ryan in his old seat of Kooyong.
AFR Weekend: The big stories, best reads and expert advice. In your inbox on Saturday.
Edition
Financial Review Rich List 2024
Tracking the fortunes of Australia’s richest people since 1983 | Australia’s 200 most wealthy and how they are handing over the keys to the kingdom
MONDAY MEDIA
Rupert Murdoch hosts secret wedding as he eyes trip home
Rupert Murdoch tied the knot for a fifth time on Sunday. He could be visiting Australia as soon as next month.
Maurice Blackburn eyes tsunami of TV news lawsuits amid Nine strife
The law firm has put out a call for people in the commercial TV industry to share their stories of sexual harassment and unlawful discrimination.
Directors at Network Ten owner Paramount back merger with Skydance
The global media company, which owns Network Ten in Australia, is up for sale by its billionaire owner Shari Redstone.
Nine Entertainment executives begin review that could backfire on them
An external review of Nine Entertainment’s TV business and an anonymous tip-line have the potential to reshape power atop Australia’s largest media company.
Laura Tingle rebuked by ABC for calling Australia racist
The chief political correspondent for the ABC’s 7.30 program has released a statement explaining the context for her comments describing Australia as racist.
Get the latest business news on the go with the AFR’s new iOS app.
Companies
Investors fear more profit downgrades as pricing power crumbles
Erosion of pricing power for which many companies were once vaunted is shaping as the next leg of the confession season with less than a month of trading left.
Gold Coast prequel to Star’s Hard Rock overture
A storm erupted last month about Hard Rock’s ties to a deal for casino operator Star. This was not the first time such perplexity had emerged, it can be revealed.
Indonesian billionaires dig into Australian coal mines
Indonesian conglomerates have ploughed more than $3 billion on coal mining projects in NSW and Queensland since 2016, records show.
- Opinion
- Financial planners
The ghost of Dixon Advisory haunts planning industry
Financial planners are up in arms about being forced to pay out tens of millions of dollars in compensation to victims of the conflict-riddled wealth management firm, writes Jonathan Shapiro.
New MoneyMe chairman accuses banks of stunting competition
The government’s open banking regime “hasn’t worked as designed”, nearly four years after its introduction, new MoneyMe chairman Jamie McPhee said.
Maurice Blackburn eyes tsunami of TV news lawsuits amid Nine strife
The law firm has put out a call for people in the commercial TV industry to share their stories of sexual harassment and unlawful discrimination.
Directors at Network Ten owner Paramount back merger with Skydance
The global media company, which owns Network Ten in Australia, is up for sale by its billionaire owner Shari Redstone.
Companies in the News
Search companies
View stories and data from an ASX listed company
Markets
- Analysis
- Mergers & acquisitions
Global M&A lurches back to life
After a weak 2023, a recent flurry of deals is the latest sign of a revival in activity. But political uncertainty is holding back some takeovers.
ASIC trains its sights on private equity
The regulator is trying to work out what’s caused the slump in public listings, and whether this has triggered problems that ASIC needs to tackle.
- Analysis
- Due diligence
Only way to lose on Aussie property? Top short defies doubters
Lifestyle Communities, one of the market’s most shorted stocks, was a key hedge fund bet at the Hong Kong Sohn conference.
- Opinion
- Sharemarket
Forget banks, it’s time to start buying mining stocks
Money has flowed disproportionately to the big four and Wesfarmers, but headwinds are starting to turn into tailwinds for the resources sector.
Economists read riot act to Fair Work on minimum wage
The Fair Work Commission is expected to lift the minimum wage by 3.5 per cent to 4 per cent next week, but economists warn that anything more will add to inflation.
Opinion
The Liberals need Frydenberg, but at what cost?
The optics of a bloke pushing aside a woman, especially in a teal seat, just because it’s suddenly become winnable, will be poor.
Political editor
Marles delivers right China message in right forum
The defence minister’s realistic assessment is that Beijing’s aggression is not only a threat but is undermining China’s legitimate self-interests that should be pursued as part of a peaceful and prosperous regional order.
Editorial
Modi’s authoritarianism will make relations with India harder to handle
It would be a tragedy and have adverse implications for the West if India’s struggle for internal harmony were to founder on the rocks of majoritarian elective autocracy.
Former Australian ambassador
Hysteria over Husic’s call shows what’s wrong with tax debate
If honesty were to play any part in tax policy, we would all be searching for a way to have a fulsome conversation about our tax system, and how its failing will negatively affect all Australians.
Tax reform advocate
A felon in the White House should raise alarm
Donald Trump’s criminal conviction may not be fatal in America’s upside-down politics. But to the rest of the world it will matter a lot.
Editorial
It will be a miracle if American democracy survives this election
Bit by bit, the United States is becoming like some Central American banana republic, where presidents who lose office expect to be jailed by their successors, writes Daniel Hannan.
Contributor
Reports
The future of financial advice
This special report looks at options to make financial advice more accessible and affordable, including robo-advice, as well as tips for the new financial year.
Sponsored
by CommBankPolitics
Frydenberg’s political comeback splits Liberals
The former treasurer is not ruling out a rematch against teal independent Monique Ryan in his old seat of Kooyong.
Australians still leery of China despite Beijing ending deep freeze
The public is divided on whether Australia should prioritise maintaining stability or deterring China, but is unenthusiastic about Joe Biden, a new poll shows.
Chance of Taiwan’s peaceful ‘reunification’ eroded, warns China
China’s Defence Minister Dong Jun said Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party was incrementally pursuing separatism.
GDP growth flatlined in March quarter: NAB
National Australia Bank economists predict GDP figures this week could show economic activity ground to a halt at the start of the year, taking annual growth to just 1 per cent.
Risk for critical infrastructure over China-manufactured drones
Australian critical infrastructure is at risk of spying and disruption with a lack of government guidance over the growing use of unmanned drones to monitor and carry out menial work, new research says.
SPONSORED
World
Modi’s alliance to win big in India election, exit polls project
Most exit polls projected the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) could win a two-thirds majority in the 543-member lower house of parliament.
Netanyahu under pressure from far right to reject Biden ceasefire deal
Far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Minister of National Security Itamar Ben Gvir said they would break up the government if it takes the deal.
Joe Biden seizes on opportunity in Trump’s guilty verdict
Donald Trump is a “convicted felon” who would “destroy our justice system, shred our democracy and attack the very idea of America”, according to the Biden camp.
Former president watches UFC bout amid chants of ‘we love Trump’
Last April Donald Trump sat cage-side after becoming the first former president to face criminal charges. On Saturday, he was at back at the Octagon.
Trump’s a felon. Now Hunter Biden’s gun trial is set to start
Jury selection begins on Monday in the first of two cases Hunter Biden has tried to avoid for years, both to stay out of prison and spare his father.
Property
Spike in auction volumes drags clearance rates lower
Preliminary clearance rates drifted lower across Sydney and Melbourne over the weekend as more vendors put their homes on the market.
Lendlease profit cut after ACCC delay on $1.3b estates sale
The earnings downgrade comes as an early blow for the company’s radical reset of its vast development business through a $4.5 billion divestment program.
Home buyers are starting to revolt over steep prices across US
Sellers are grappling with the fact that higher-for-longer rates are choking off demand during what’s typically the key season for the US market.
The Young Rich Listers set to smash Queensland property records
Simon and Tah-nee Beard have listed their luxury penthouse for $30 million, more than double what they paid.
Brett Wells waited 517 days for a DA approval. Now he’s going to court
The doctor is at war with Woollahra Council, which has a reputation as one of Sydney’s most anti-development municipalities.
Wealth
How to invest like a Rich Lister and beat the market
There are 37 listed stocks linked to Rich List members, and their ability to deliver above-market returns is impressive.
Decades after tycoon’s death, his family is suing each other over a mansion
Tech tycoon’s widow says she felt ‘used and abused’ in a dispute that pitted her three children against her – and each other.
- Opinion
- Super Q&A
I’m a high earner about to encounter Division 293 tax. What can I do?
You may want to consider reducing your taxable income below $250,000 by claiming allowable deductions such as donations to charity.
Technology
Why CBA’s AI future needs more reimagining
A US trip left CBA chief executive Matt Comyn with questions to which he doesn’t have all the answers. It’s a common theme across the Australian business world.
Why age restrictions on social media ‘won’t happen overnight’
Australia’s eSafety Commissioner says it is difficult to judge the correct age to ban kids from social media.
Turmoil erupts inside OpenAI over safety fears
Arguments over safety and Sam Altman’s leadership are spilling back into the public domain as the AI start-up is hit by resignations.
Work & Careers
Neil Perry, top chefs combine and take on the old guard
Heavy hitters including Luke Mangan and Merivale have joined a new association to help save the restaurant industry – and challenge a century-old lobby group.
- Exclusive
- Philanthropy
How Geoff Wilson assembled his investment dream team
Philip Lowe, Jennifer Westacott, Mike Baird, David Paradice, Andrew Forrest and Solomon Lew are among the heavy-hitters who have joined Geoff Wilson’s charitable mission to raise money for kids.
Life & Luxury
How this comedian built a career while working for PwC
His bosses thought he’d just popped out for a moment, but he was actually working at the ABC.
- Driving With Tony Davis
- Motoring
Volvo’s new EX30 Ultra takes just 3.6 seconds to reach 100 km/h
The fully electric city slicker is the brand’s fastest accelerating car ever, plus it’s roomy, quiet and friendly looking. What’s not to like?
Why Demi Moore’s gory new film is generating so much buzz
The actress’s moving and brutal Cannes sensation, ‘The Substance’, ends her retreat from stardom and reveals her vulnerability after a challenging career.
This is how much saturated fat you can ‘get away’ with eating
A study shows that processes that occur in your heart and blood are the biggest driver in how our bodies use different fats as fuel.
400 new recipes for one small ship? This is cruising for true foodies
New executive culinary director Alexis Quaretti is serving classical French cuisine, of course, but expect additional inventive menus from Oceania Cruises.
